UK Government: 'Sepp Blatter must step down as FIFA president'

The UK Government has said that Sepp Blatter should resign with immediate effect as FIFA president.

A number of sponsors have said that the 79-year-old should quit after criminal proceedings were opened against him.

"The sooner Blatter goes, the sooner wide-scale reform at Fifa can begin," Sports Minister Tracey Crouch told reporters.

Blatter said last week that he will stay on as FIFA president until next February's presidential election.